Updated 9:45 p.m.: The event will be Wednesday, March 23, not Tuesday, March 22 as previously reported. Author Judy Ferro will be reading from her novel Desiderata Wednesday (March 23, 2011), 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., at Cafe Bonjour (7119 Woodlawn Ave NE). Everyone is welcome to the free event. “A king’s ambitions thwart Desiderata’s dream of being duchess of her Bavarian homeland,” reads a description of the book on Amazon. “Instead, as a hostage in the Frankish Court, she lives her childhood nightmare – frightened and ignored. She is forced into betrothal with the hateful Young Pepin–the son King Karolus… …

PhinneyWood shares information about We Patch, a Seattle organization that pairs up would-be gardeners with those who have gardening space. Also from PhinneyWood comes news of PNA Village,which will serve people aged 50 and older living between North 50th Street and North 105th Street, and from Aurora Avenue North to 15th Avenue NW. My Wallingford reports that Tangletown’s Mighty-O Donuts will be featured on “Food Network Challenge: Donut Champions” next month. There was as fire in a bathroom at Roosevelt High School today (Monday, March 21, 2011). Roosiehood has details. The Trust for Public Land released a report today that concludes that parks in Seattle add… …

In honor of Mother’s Day, the Seattle Bed & Breakfast Association is awarding a getaway package to a mom “who needs a break.” The package includes a stay at any Seattle B&B Association member inn, including Greenlake Guest House (7630 East Green Lake Dr N). The winner of the contest will receive one night’s lodging, breakfast in the morning, a fresh flower bouquet at check in, a spa treatment, and dinner for two at a well-known Seattle restaurant. To enter, submit a 1-2 minute funny video clip of why you or your mother, wife, or friend needs a break. From now until April 22, 2011, you can… …

Spring Clean, the city’s longest-running neighborhood cleanup program, is celebrating its 25th year. The program runs from April through May. Last year, according to a news release from Seattle Public Utilities, more than 20,000 volunteer hours were dedicated to Spring Clean. Spring Clean activities include painting out graffiti, picking up litter and illegally dumped materials, stenciling storm drains, cleaning school yards, removing invasive plants in planting strips and traffic circles, and planting trees. All projects are conducted on public property. The City of Seattle supports volunteers with free bags, gloves, safety vests, and waste disposal. Spring Clean information, including neighborhood cleanup activities… …

Green Lake’s Lifetime Learning Center, which offers continuing education for older adults, will be holding an open house on Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Coffee and cookies will be available. The Lifetime Learning Center offers daytime, non-credit college-level courses in a wide range of subjects, from literature, history, and opera appreciation to bridge, yoga, and tai chi (geared to older adults), watercolor, quilting, computer classes, and writing your life story. About 35 classes are offered each quarter. Each class is offered one day a week for eight weeks. Online registration for the 2011 Spring Quarter is available… …

The Friends of Green Lake meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at The Hearthstone (6720 E Green Lake Way N). All are welcome to join the meeting, which will feature a discussion about Green Lake’s algae. Earlier this winter, toxic algae could be seen in Green Lake. (Read more about Green Lake’s toxic algae here.) Algologist Karl Bruun, who photographs algae through a microscope, will be sharing pictures of Green Lake’s algae, and Rob Zisette, Aquatic Science Specialist at Herrera Environmental Consultants, will compare the kinds of algae found in Green Lake before and after an alum treatment. The Friends of Green Lake’s new… …

Instrumental guitarist and composer Ronnda Cadle is performing next Thursday (March 24, 2011), 8 p.m. – 10 p.m., at The Great Hall at Green Lake (7220 Woodlawn Ave NE). The Save Our Parks benefit concert is a fundraiser for the Washington Trails Association. “[Our state parks] are a safe place to stop, look and listen while bringing peace and inspiration to our creative and overworked minds,” a Washington Trails Association blog post quotes Ronnda as saying. “I get most of my inspiration from traveling and coming home to these beautiful spaces.” Ronnda will be playing many of her new songs from her forthcoming album, Will’s… …

The 7th annual DRAGONSLAYER Bike Hike or Trike event will be at Green Lake Park on Saturday, April 16, 2011, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. DRAGONSLAYER is the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation’s annual walk, run and/or bike developed to raise funds to support sarcoma research while funding a need-based financial assistance program supporting adult patients currently undergoing treatment. Additionally, DRAGONSLAYER raises money for sarcoma advocacy and education. Sarcoma, according to a press release sent by the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation, is a cancerous tumor that arises out of connective tissue, is oftentimes misdiagnosed because of the way it presents itself. By the time sarcoma… …